But what happens when your baby is born prematurely or needs special care in the NICU? All of this quickly fades away, and you are often left feeling alone and afraid. The first days in the NICU are nothing short of terrifying with the unknown, the what-ifs, and the confusion about what is yet to come. You have so many questions, and your family and friends are often left with just as many. They are worried about you, and they are worried about your baby too. They want to support you, but many times they just don’t know how. They may say or do things with good intention that leave you feeling frustrated, alone, or misunderstood. For family and friends—how do you appropriately “celebrate” an early arrival? How do you acknowledge this important event and precious new little life? How do you help parents cope with having a baby in the NICU, and what can you possibly do to not only give support but also help parents through the NICU journey? You want to do something and you want to show you care and that you are thinking of them, but with what and how? Choosing a helpful and meaningful gift for a new NICU parent can be a bit challenging. The following will help guide you through this difficult process. Show the new parents you care and that you understand with a thoughtful heart-warming gift that allows the parents’ scent to stay with their baby, to help comfort, heal, and soothe when they cannot be physically present in the NICU. Filling a basket full of books for babies is a great gift, not only for the early NICU days but to have treasured and meaningful stories to hold onto throughout childhood. But, this doesn’t mean that these things shouldn’t be acknowledged or celebrated. Making these memories, cherishing them, and recording them is so important now and in the years to come, it will be these memories that will be cherished for a lifetime. Here are some ways to help parents capture memories.
Photography
Many hospitals offer newborn photos but it is often once the baby is ready for discharge from the NICU. Photographing the journey and some of the early days will help parents not only remember but record some of the milestones. Finding a photographer who can capture these moments and help record these memories is an invaluable gift.
Clothing
The first outfits for preemies may come days, weeks, or even months after birth. Dressing the baby for the first time is one of the most exciting milestones. Help parents celebrate this moment with a shirt or onesie that is not only meaningful but can also be a keepsake, helping them remember the happy moments of early NICU days.
Journey Beads
The NICU can spark emotions that parents never knew existed—emotions so intense that only those who have been through it can truly understand. With all the uncertainty a NICU stay brings, it is difficult to actually take the time to celebrate this new life. But it’s important to acknowledge the journey, the emotions, the accomplishments, and the milestones, and to celebrate them all. Here are some benefits of Journey Beads:
Tell a story of strength, courage, hope, and healingHelp alleviate some of the emotional pain of the NICU experience, decreasing stress and anxietyProvide a means to record and share their journey, giving a timeline and a tangible way to celebrate each milestone achievement in a positive and empowering wayRestore a sense of self, inspiring them to push on, knowing that they are not aloneBring comfort in a time of crisis and a sense of joy to their journey
NICU Journey Beads offer a way for parents to tell their story, their baby’s story, and to recognize, record, and celebrate the journey along the way. Reach out to some of these preemie parent groups for your friend or family member and compile a list of websites like Hand to Hold or NICU Helping Hands that can offer support on a local level or virtually. You can also order a parent NICU care package. Keep in mind that the number one thing you can do is offer your support. Knowing that family and friends truly care can make all the difference in the world to parents who are going through one of the most difficult journeys of their life.
